US4529018A - Method and apparatus for inflating balloons and for deploying a load suspended therefrom - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for inflating balloons and for deploying a load suspended therefrom Download PDF

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Publication number
US4529018A
US4529018A US06/624,394 US62439484A US4529018A US 4529018 A US4529018 A US 4529018A US 62439484 A US62439484 A US 62439484A US 4529018 A US4529018 A US 4529018A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
tether
load
shaft
balloon
wheel
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
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US06/624,394
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English (en)
Inventor
Ernest W. Lichfield
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
University Corp for Atmospheric Research UCAR
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University Corp for Atmospheric Research UCAR
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Publication date
Application filed by University Corp for Atmospheric Research UCAR filed Critical University Corp for Atmospheric Research UCAR
Priority to US06/624,394 priority Critical patent/US4529018A/en
Assigned to UNIVERSITY CORPORATION FOR ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH reassignment UNIVERSITY CORPORATION FOR ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: LICHFIELD, ERNEST W.
Priority to FI852452A priority patent/FI852452L/fi
Priority to CA000485001A priority patent/CA1251431A/en
Priority to JP60136222A priority patent/JPS6181896A/ja
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US4529018A publication Critical patent/US4529018A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64B—LIGHTER-THAN AIR AIRCRAFT
    • B64B1/00—Lighter-than-air aircraft
    • B64B1/58—Arrangements or construction of gas-bags; Filling arrangements
    • B64B1/64—Gas valve operating mechanisms
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64B—LIGHTER-THAN AIR AIRCRAFT
    • B64B1/00—Lighter-than-air aircraft
    • B64B1/40—Balloons

Definitions

  • One-way valves of the type forming an integral part of the combination device herein described and claimed have been used in much the same form for many years as a bicycle tire inflation fitting.
  • a cup-shaped plug with one or more holes in the side is employed to seal a stretchable elastic neck forming the air intake into a bicycle tube, the neck, obviously, sealing off the opening in the plug during normal use.
  • the neck Upon inflation, on the other hand, the neck expands due to its elasticity thus allowing air to enter the tube.
  • the U.S. Western Service employs an all-metal device which it calls a "flight train regulator" to deploy the sonde.
  • the unit operates much like a pendulum clock since the weight of the sonde as it pulls on its tether produces torque on a spool upon which the tether is wound while the rate at which the spool is allowed to turn is controlled by a pendulum and escapement subassembly very similar to the mechanism in a clock that is driven by wind-up weights.
  • Another objective of the invention herein disclosed and claimed is to provide an apparatus of the type described which is automatic in terms of its gas admission, sealing and load-deployment functions.
  • Still another objective is the provision of a device for lowering a load from an elevated position that is self-contained and gravity-operated.
  • An additional object is that of providing a combination balloon-inflation and load-letdown fixture that can be operated by one person even under adverse weather conditions.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combination balloon-inflation and load-deployment apparatus
  • FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the one-way valve portion thereof showing the latter secured within the neck of a balloon;
  • FIG. 3 is a diametrical section showing the one-way valve in the balloon neck and the inflation nozzle detachably connected into said valve;
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view much like FIG. 1 and to the same scale showing the valve fitted with the load-letdown notched flywheel and associated tether.
  • reference numeral 10 has been selected to broadly identify the combination balloon-inflation and load-lowering device in its entirety while numerals 12 and 14 similarly identify the one-way valve and notched flywheel subassemblies thereof.
  • the one-way valve in FIG. 3 will be seen to comprise an inverted generally cup-shaped member having one or more apertures 16 in its cylindrical body 18 adjacent the closed top 20.
  • an annular rib 22 encircles the body approximately two-thirds of the way down to its open lower end 24 where the downwardly-directed arms 26 that journal the shaft 28 of the flywheel subassembly 12 are located.
  • These arms lie in transversely-spaced essentially parallel relation to one another and are formed integral with the valve body.
  • the free ends 30 of both arms are chamfered on the inside tip ends as indicated at 32 so as to spring these arms apart slightly when the flywheel shaft 28 is passed upwardly therebetween preparatory to entering the transversely-aligned holes 34 provided for the reduced diameter sections 36 on the shaft ends.
  • Annular rib 22 includes a downwardly-flared annular surface 38 that emerges from the cylindrical valve body and terminates where it intersects downwardly-facing shoulder 40 at the lower edge thereof which returns to the surface of the body.
  • annular rib 18 Spaced beneath the annular rib 18 is a second integrally-formed annular rib 42 from which the arms 26 emerge.
  • the upper surface of rib 42 comprises an upwardly-facing annular shoulder 44 that cooperates with the opposed shoulder 40 thereabove to bracket section 46 of the valve body in between, the latter having been most clearly shown in FIG. 1.
  • an inflation stem indicated in a general way by reference numeral 54 is placed up inside of the inverted cup-shaped body of the valve as shown.
  • stem 54 has a cylindrical body 56 sized to fit loosely up inside the valve body.
  • Stem body 56 is encircled by an annular O-ring groove 58.
  • O-ring 60 seated in groove 58 forms a continuous annular air-tight seal against the inside of the valve body in the usual manner.
  • FIGS. 2 and 4 the neck 48 of the balloon will be seen collapsed against the outer surface of the valve body where it covers and seals the apertures 16 entering the latter. With the stem removed, it is this feature along with, of course, the closed end 20 of the valve body that keeps the gas inside the balloon during flight with the stem 54 removed.
  • the gas under pressure entering the bore 64 of the stem passes into the annular space between the outside of its reduced diameter section 68 and the opposed surface inside the valve body by means of the transverse bore 66. It will then pass out through the apertures 16 of the one-way valve expanding the balloon neck as shown and allowing the lifting gas to enter.
  • the system Once the balloon is filled and the pressure removed the system will, of course, revert to the condition shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.
  • the final step in the inflation process is to remove the stem.
  • the manner in which the load 70 is attached and deployed will now be described in detail with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 4.
  • flywheel subassembly 14 can be snapped in place between the depending arms of the one-way valve subassembly 12 in the manner that has been previously described.
  • the shoulders separating the reduced diameter end sections 36 of the main flywheel shaft 28 cooperate with the spring arms 26 which upon being spread apart exert a slight inward bias thereagainst that keeps the flywheel subassembly securely in place while, at the same time, allowing it to rotate freely back and forth in the manner soon to be set forth in detail.
  • Load 70 is representative of a sonde or other device to be carried aloft by a balloon.
  • the better practice is to launch the sonde as close as practicable to the underside of the balloon, but subsequently deploy same at a distance of 35 to 40 meters therebeneath so that the balloon does not shield or otherwise interfere with the action of the sonde.
  • Applicant's unique method and apparatus for accomplishing the above is, first of all, to string a so-called "flight train" or, more commonly, a tether 72 between the letdown device 14 and the load 70. On the lower end, the tether is securely fastened to the sonde and on the upper end it is attached to the flywheel shaft 28 alongside the flywheel 74. It will be seen in FIG.
  • Flywheel 72 has a pie-shaped segment taken out of the edge to provide a notch through which the tether is reaved back and forth from one side of the flywheel to the other as shown in FIG. 4 after taking one or more turns around the shaft in opposite directions. If, for example, one turn around the shaft is taken clockwise on the right side of the flywheel and a second single turn is taken counterclockwise on the left side of the flywheel after being taken through the notch 74, and this sequence is repeated over and over again until the tether is all wound upon the shaft, then the load will deploy automatically by itself at its slowest rate when the flywheel flip-flops to-and-fro once each revolution.
  • the phantom-line representation reveals the tether in the position it will occupy essentially on the vertical axis of the system when the load is fully deployed even though the load as illustrated has not yet reached this position.
  • the full line position shows the approximate location of the tether and the load suspended therebeneath when the tether is unwinding off the right end of the flywheel shaft.
  • All parts of the assembly with the exception of the tether and, perhaps, the strap tie 52 are fabricated from lightweight materials, preferably plastic. While lightweight metals like, for example, aluminum and magnesium could be substituted for plastic and, as far as functional considerations are concerned, would work quite well, their disadvantages in terms of increased fabrication expense and weight mitigate against their use.
  • the apparatus just described is very simple and can be operated by one person without assistance in all but the most adverse weather conditions involving high winds.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
  • Telephone Function (AREA)
  • Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)
US06/624,394 1984-06-25 1984-06-25 Method and apparatus for inflating balloons and for deploying a load suspended therefrom Expired - Fee Related US4529018A (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/624,394 US4529018A (en) 1984-06-25 1984-06-25 Method and apparatus for inflating balloons and for deploying a load suspended therefrom
FI852452A FI852452L (fi) 1984-06-25 1985-06-20 Anordning foer nedbringande av last fraon en ballong.
CA000485001A CA1251431A (en) 1984-06-25 1985-06-24 Method and apparatus for inflating balloons and for deploying a load suspended therefrom
JP60136222A JPS6181896A (ja) 1984-06-25 1985-06-24 気球から積荷を下降させるための装置

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/624,394 US4529018A (en) 1984-06-25 1984-06-25 Method and apparatus for inflating balloons and for deploying a load suspended therefrom

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4529018A true US4529018A (en) 1985-07-16

Family

ID=24501836

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US06/624,394 Expired - Fee Related US4529018A (en) 1984-06-25 1984-06-25 Method and apparatus for inflating balloons and for deploying a load suspended therefrom

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US4529018A (fi)
JP (1) JPS6181896A (fi)
CA (1) CA1251431A (fi)
FI (1) FI852452L (fi)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5531401A (en) * 1993-06-14 1996-07-02 Newcomb; Elliott S. Toy simulated hot-air balloon
US20090113865A1 (en) * 2007-03-13 2009-05-07 Randy Lohrentz Method and Apparatus for Removing a Drive Belt in Confined Spaces
US9174720B1 (en) * 2013-05-28 2015-11-03 Google Inc. Actuated umbrella valves to deflate bladder in balloon envelope
USD793483S1 (en) 2015-11-20 2017-08-01 Telebrands Corp. Device for filling multiple water balloons
USD793485S1 (en) 2015-11-20 2017-08-01 Telebrands Corp. Device for filling multiple water balloons
USD793484S1 (en) 2015-11-20 2017-08-01 Telebrands Corp. Device for filling multiple water balloons
US9776744B2 (en) 2015-06-19 2017-10-03 Telebrands Corp. Container sealing device
US9783327B2 (en) 2015-06-19 2017-10-10 Telebrands Corp. Container sealing device
US20180079535A1 (en) 2015-06-19 2018-03-22 Telebrands Corp. Container sealing device
US10322789B2 (en) * 2014-04-10 2019-06-18 Loon Llc Filling apparatus for high-altitude balloons
JP7429305B2 (ja) 2020-11-05 2024-02-07 明星電気株式会社 気象観測装置、逆止弁及びフックユニット

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2012015822A1 (en) 2010-07-30 2012-02-02 Ergotron, Inc. Display positioning apparatus and method

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2758803A (en) * 1954-08-19 1956-08-14 Winzen Res Inc Balloon
US4034501A (en) * 1975-12-29 1977-07-12 Abraham Zeyra Unitary inflation devices for helium balloons and their like

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2758803A (en) * 1954-08-19 1956-08-14 Winzen Res Inc Balloon
US4034501A (en) * 1975-12-29 1977-07-12 Abraham Zeyra Unitary inflation devices for helium balloons and their like

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5531401A (en) * 1993-06-14 1996-07-02 Newcomb; Elliott S. Toy simulated hot-air balloon
US20090113865A1 (en) * 2007-03-13 2009-05-07 Randy Lohrentz Method and Apparatus for Removing a Drive Belt in Confined Spaces
US9174720B1 (en) * 2013-05-28 2015-11-03 Google Inc. Actuated umbrella valves to deflate bladder in balloon envelope
US10322789B2 (en) * 2014-04-10 2019-06-18 Loon Llc Filling apparatus for high-altitude balloons
US10065754B2 (en) 2015-06-19 2018-09-04 Telebrands Corp. Container sealing device
US9776744B2 (en) 2015-06-19 2017-10-03 Telebrands Corp. Container sealing device
US9783327B2 (en) 2015-06-19 2017-10-10 Telebrands Corp. Container sealing device
US20180079535A1 (en) 2015-06-19 2018-03-22 Telebrands Corp. Container sealing device
US10227146B2 (en) 2015-06-19 2019-03-12 Telebrands Corp. Container sealing device
US10259600B2 (en) 2015-06-19 2019-04-16 Telebrands Corp. Container sealing device
US10279936B2 (en) 2015-06-19 2019-05-07 Telebrands Corp. System, device, and method for filling at least one balloon
USD793484S1 (en) 2015-11-20 2017-08-01 Telebrands Corp. Device for filling multiple water balloons
USD793485S1 (en) 2015-11-20 2017-08-01 Telebrands Corp. Device for filling multiple water balloons
USD793483S1 (en) 2015-11-20 2017-08-01 Telebrands Corp. Device for filling multiple water balloons
JP7429305B2 (ja) 2020-11-05 2024-02-07 明星電気株式会社 気象観測装置、逆止弁及びフックユニット

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FI852452L (fi) 1985-12-26
FI852452A0 (fi) 1985-06-20
CA1251431A (en) 1989-03-21
JPS6181896A (ja) 1986-04-25

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AS Assignment

Owner name: UNIVERSITY CORPORATION FOR ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH 18

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:LICHFIELD, ERNEST W.;REEL/FRAME:004278/0782

Effective date: 19840615

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Effective date: 19930718

STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362